Meticulous
The Swiss Marcel Massini probably knows more about Ferrari than anyone else. Over decades, he has collected everything there is to collect on Ferrari: pictures, invoices, just about everything. His meticulousness is boundless. A Massini report can ennoble a vehicle. Even the classic department in Maranello often has no idea compared to Massini. The famous ‘Red Book’ from Ferrari Classiche can be obtained for a tidy sum, but a car with a complete Massini history, like the Lusso shown here, is even more valuable. #5145GT will be auctioned by Bonhams at the beginning of February 2015; details from the Massini report can be seen below.
VIN: 5145 GT
Engine: 5145
Auction: Bonhams, Paris 2025, estimate 1,2 to 1,5 mio Euro, with these informations: «Produced in August 1963, this Ferrari 250 GT Lusso in ’ Grigio Argento’ with a “Pelle Rossa” interior was delivered to the official dealer Gastone Crepaldi Automobili in Milan before being imported to the United States by Luigi Chinetti Motors of New York in 1964. It was then purchased by Russell Torge of Manhattan Beach, California, who had work done on the engine and the clutch before selling it in 1974 to Donald Kellog of Salinas, California. He kept it until 1979 and from 1985 until September 1987, the car belonged to Michael E. Henry of Burbank, under the licence plate number ‘099 HNI’.
In April 1988, it left for Europe, where it was purchased by Tiziano Carugati Automobiles of Geneva, who soon sold it to Mr Imholz, the owner of a travel agency in Switzerland. On 19 September 1989, when the car’s odometer showed 8,398 km, Mr Imholz had the car restored by the Foitek garage in Zurich, for which the final invoice was 83,019 Swiss francs. These works were followed by a second intervention, which gave rise to an invoice for 41,160 Swiss francs on 21 June 1990, at the mileage of 8,409 km. In June 1998, the car was sold to Tiziano Carugati Automobiles, of Plan-les-Ouates (near Geneva) and registered in the name of Alexandra Carugati under the number ‘GE 270073’. In August 1998, Tiziano Carugati registered it for the Chopard Concours d’Élégance in Geneva, under number 27, and it won first prize in its category. On 6 April 1999, she was registered in the name of Mr Savoretti, of Cologny (in the Geneva suburbs), under the number ‘GE 418886’. In October 1999, she was sold by Tiziano Carugati to Mr Dunand, who lives in Geneva and registered her ‘GE 500099’. After several successive mechanical interventions at the beginning of 2000 by the Atelier Sport & GT of Edgar Jean-Mairet, by Albert Cailler Restauration and by Fiat Auto, it was re-registered on 11 August 2000 in the name of Mr Dunand’s company in Geneva, under the same number. At the beginning of 2002, with the aim of participating in the prestigious Rallye International des Alpes, Mr Dunand applied for a FIVA passport and, after inspection by Mr Corbat, sent by the fédération, le passeport est établi le 21 juin 2002. La voiture prend donc part au rallye sous le numéro 841, entre les mains de Dunand et son copilote Louis-Charles Bonvin. From 2002 to 2012, several invoices attest to regular maintenance work and technical inspections, which makes it possible to observe the progression of the mileage displayed by the odometer: 14,550 km on 5 November 2002, 16,453 km on 7 September 2005, 17,583 km on 31 August 2007, 18,002 km on 23 November 2007, which is indicative of frugal use. On 30 May 2012, it was offered for sale by Carugati Automobiles, showing 19,222 km at the time, and it then joined the ‘Silver Collection’, of which it is one of the masterpieces.
On 9 April 2013, this magnificent Ferrari 250 GT Lusso received its Ferrari Classiche certification, accompanied by the precious ‘Red Book’, certifying that the engine and gearbox are original, as is the bodywork, which has not been repaired or rebuilt. It therefore presents impeccable original integrity. Today equipped with a black interior installed a long time ago and beautifully patinated by Marcel Massini, this car is accompanied by an impressive folder of invoices dating back to the 1990s attesting to its regular maintenance.»
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More of these Lussos can be found here. And then there’s the archive, too.
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